FEROCIOUS winds caused havoc across York and North Yorkshire with major roads closed, trains severely delayed, and trees and masonry blown down.

Thousands of motorists and rail passengers suffered nightmare journeys home as the emergency services battled against the elements.

There were massive delays at York Station after southbound GNER services were affected by significant problems on the lines.

Heavy congestion was generated on the city's main arterial routes, including the A59, the A64 between Fulford and Copmanthorpe,and the A19 between York and Selby, as lorries were overturned and trees ripped up.

Fire crews were stretched to the limit as they responded to dozens of calls caused by the stormy weather.

Haxby Road was closed between the Wigginton Road junction and Haley's Terrace at around 1pm after masonry and sheet metal fell from the Aero plant's roof at the Nestle Rowntree factory.

The road was not reopened until afternoon, causing traffic chaos in the city centre.

A Nestlé spokeswoman said: "Following the disruptive weather conditions ducting on the external area of the Aero plant was damaged by the strong winds and gales.

"This led to debris being blown off the top of the building and following health and safety precautions; Nestlé closed the part of the Aero site affected.

"Due to potential debris being blown onto Haxby Road, Nestlé also contacted the police, who decided to close the road as a precaution, until it is safe to repair the loose ducting.

"Nestlé is continuing to monitor winds speeds in order to carry out repairs as soon as it is possible and safe to do so."

Fire crews were also called to York Theatre Royal, in St Leonard's Place, after a large stone in the roof became dislodged.

The road was closed as firefighters from both Acomb appliances used a turntable ladder to secure the block.

Theatre spokesman Duncan Clarke said: "The loose masonry was spotted by a council worker in the offices opposite. We called the fire service immediately and they dealt with the problem. None of our performances were affected."

Elsewhere, a tradesman had to be rescued by firefighters from the roof of a three storey building off Tadcaster Road, when his ladder blew away in the strong wind.

In a precautionary move, City of York Council closed all its parks because of the gusts.

Meanwhile, thousands of householders suffered power cuts and a lorry driver was killed when her vehicle was blown off a bridge into a canal on the A629 Skipton bypass close to its junction with the A59.

A spokesman for electricity distribution firm NEDL said several thousand customers in Fulford, York, and Hemingbrough, Escrick and Stillingfleet had lost their electricity during the winds.

As residents and businesses began cleaning up today, forecasters predicted that the worst of the storms were over.